A Blood Heir

Chapter 6- Future Plans

“Do you believe those humans really came through a portal?” Marco asked as the three of them made their way out of the dungeons.

“Might be true.” Cade said, “They know about the crystal.”

“What do you think my Lord?”

Hunter didn’t know what to think. Until a few weeks ago, he’d thought the Marked were a myth. And it was only a few days ago that he’d heard of someone capable of opening portals to earth. “Let’s wait until the female wakes up and we’ll get all the answers.”

Coming to a stop at the antechamber connecting different hallways to the one leading outside the west wing, Hunter turned to face Cade. “Tell Dallan to let me know when she wakes up.” Dallan had been the palace physician for centuries. It wasn’t often that his services were needed. The crystal fastened their healing thus with smaller injuries, the scars would be gone within a couple of hours. Only during severe conditions did one need treatment. “And tell every warrior who knows about the human arrival to stay quiet about it. I don’t want them to cause any panic among the people.”

He nodded before following the hallway to the infirmary.

“I’ll take my leave. I need to take care of something outside the castle,” Marco said.

Hunter dipped his chin inward. After Marco dematerialized, he headed back to the east wing.

In his stone walled study was a sturdy wooden table and leather chair behind it. Against one wall was a shelf lined with records that dated from hundreds of years ago. On another was a window giving a view of the endless green field standing between the castle and the grey endless protective wall. The natural light sipping through it and the climbing greenery on the study’s walls gave the room a feel of the outdoors.

Slumping on his chair, his eyes settled on the stack of papers arranged on his study table according to their origin, all of which he needed to go over, approve and sign. He was born for this, born to have no time for play, laughter, or a long evening of happy chatter. He was born to have an ingrained part of his life that wasn’t lived, but survived, and endured.

Pulling the brown papers at the top of one pile, he dipped his quill in the ink, sighed at the dotted line, and stamped the royal seal.

It was hours later when he yanked his face out of the papers. A huge yawn escaped him and his stomach rumbled as he shifted in his seat. Looking at the sun’s position through the window, he was certain it was past noon. He didn’t like to break his flow and didn’t appreciate being disturbed when he was working. And that often made him go without the noon meal. The kitchen staff always made sure something was always set aside for him but the food mostly went uneaten

Besides his stomach, his brain pleaded with him to leave the room. He felt exhausted. This was so unlike him. He could work until late in the night and still be energetic at the end of the day.

Head tilting backwards, indenting the leather, he shut his eyes. The alien visitors had been on his mind all morning. Without answers, his mind couldn’t settle. Why were they here? Was that the reason Cade hadn’t been able to track down Gwenith? Was she on earth? Was she the one who’d opened the portal for them? And why would she send humans to Krystan? He wished the female could wake up soon so he could get the answers to his question.

He jerked up when a soft knock came on the door. “Come in!” He called out. His eyes never left the door as it swung further to let in a tall, athletic-built, dark-skinned male with a short-boxed beard and short-crisp hair

“Dallan!”

“Are you busy my Lord?” he hesitated at the door. “I can come another time.”

“Is she awake?” Hunter asked in response.